}}{{tnr}}'''Kurt Zellers''' (b. October 16, 1969) is the [[Republican]] [[Speaker of the House|Speaker]] of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]]. He has represented District 32B since winning a special election in February 2003.

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}}{{tnr}}'''Kurt Zellers''' (b. October 16, 1969) is a [[Republican]] member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]], representing District 34B. He was first elected to the chamber in 2002, and is a former [[Speaker of the House]].

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Zellers has previously served as Communications Consultant for the Republican Caucus in the Minnesota State House of Representatives, and Communications Director for U.S. Senator Rod Grams.

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Zellers {{2014is}} a candidate for [[Governor of Minnesota]] in the [[Minnesota state executive official elections, 2014|2014 elections]].<ref name=gov14>[http://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2013/06/former-speaker-kurt-zellers-becomes-third-republican-challenge-dayton-2014 ''Minn Post,'' "Former Speaker Kurt Zellers becomes third Republican to challenge Dayton in 2014," June 24, 2013]</ref>

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==Biography==

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Zellers's professional experience includes serving as Communications Consultant for the Republican Caucus in the Minnesota State House of Representatives, and Communications Director for U.S. Senator Rod Grams.

In May 2011, ''Governing Magazine'' named Zellers one of 17 "GOP Legislators to Watch." Each of the legislators was selected on the basis of qualities like leadership, ambition, and political potential.<ref>[http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/GOP-legislators-to-watch.html ''Governing,'' "GOP Legislators to Watch," May 24, 2011]</ref>

In May 2011, ''Governing Magazine'' named Zellers one of 17 "GOP Legislators to Watch." Each of the legislators was selected on the basis of qualities like leadership, ambition, and political potential.<ref>[http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/GOP-legislators-to-watch.html ''Governing,'' "GOP Legislators to Watch," May 24, 2011]</ref>

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He is married and has 2 children.<ref>[http://votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=38998 ''Project Vote Smart'' - Rep. Zellers]</ref>

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==Committee assignments==

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===2013-2014===

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At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Zellers served on the following committees:

Zellers {{2014isrunning}} for [[State executive official elections, 2014|election]] as [[Governor of Minnesota]].<ref name=gov14/> Zellers {{2014isseeking}} the [[Republican]] nomination in the primary on August 12, 2013. {{Nov2014genelection}}

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====2014 - Campaign themes====

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At his 2014 campaign launch event, Zellers emphasized his disapproval of Democratic incumbent Gov. [[Mark Dayton]]'s decision to add $2 billion in taxes and fees to the recent budget, claiming it will hurt working class families and small business owners. His campaign platform is "to get the yoke of government off the backs, out of the pockets and out of the way of these small business owners."<ref name=gov14/>

Zellers ran in the [[State legislative elections, 2012|2012 election]] for [[Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2012|Minnesota House of Representatives]] District 34B. He was unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14 and defeated [[David Hoden]] in the general election on November 6, 2012.<ref>[http://candidates.sos.state.mn.us/CandidateFilingResults.aspx?county=0&municipality=0&schooldistrict=0&hospitaldistrict=0&level=1&party=0&federal=False&judicial=False&executive=False&senate=False&representative=True&title=&office=0&candidateid=0 ''Minnesota Secretary of State'' "2012 State General Election Candidate Filings," Accessed June 18, 2012]</ref><ref>[http://www.sos.state.mn.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=11802 ''Minnesota Secretary of State,'' Official 2012 Primary Results]</ref>

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Zellers ran in the [[State legislative elections, 2012|2012 election]] for [[Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2012|Minnesota House of Representatives]] District 34B. He was unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14 and defeated [[David Hoden]] (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.<ref>[http://candidates.sos.state.mn.us/CandidateFilingResults.aspx?county=0&municipality=0&schooldistrict=0&hospitaldistrict=0&level=1&party=0&federal=False&judicial=False&executive=False&senate=False&representative=True&title=&office=0&candidateid=0 ''Minnesota Secretary of State'' "2012 State General Election Candidate Filings," Accessed June 18, 2012]</ref><ref>[http://www.sos.state.mn.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=11802 ''Minnesota Secretary of State,'' Official 2012 Primary Results]</ref>

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{{Election box 2012

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|Collapse =

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|Chamber = Minnesota House of Representatives, District 34B, General Election

*Excerpt: "Permitting must move at the speed of commerce to support Minnesota’s economic recover and job creation."

===2010===

===2010===

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==Campaign donors==

==Campaign donors==

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===2010===

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{{Comprehensive donor history

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In 2010, Zellers received $66,534 in campaign donations. The largest donors are listed below.<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/state_candidates.phtml?s=MN&y=2010&f=H&so=O#sorttable Follow the Money - 2010 Campaign contributions]</ref>

Biography

Zellers's professional experience includes serving as Communications Consultant for the Republican Caucus in the Minnesota State House of Representatives, and Communications Director for U.S. Senator Rod Grams.
[2]

In May 2011, Governing Magazine named Zellers one of 17 "GOP Legislators to Watch." Each of the legislators was selected on the basis of qualities like leadership, ambition, and political potential.[3]

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Zellers served on the following committees:

2014 - Campaign themes

At his 2014 campaign launch event, Zellers emphasized his disapproval of Democratic incumbent Gov. Mark Dayton's decision to add $2 billion in taxes and fees to the recent budget, claiming it will hurt working class families and small business owners. His campaign platform is "to get the yoke of government off the backs, out of the pockets and out of the way of these small business owners."[1]

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for is available dating back to . Based on available campaign finance records, raised a total of $290,907 during that time period. This information was last updated on July 13, 2013.[11]